When it comes to being fit, we know going to the gym is a must, but are we getting the most out of our workout routine once we get there? Here are some common exercise myths we might be guilty of believing in taken from AOL Body's Fitness Myths Demystified with personal trainer Jan Wyche.
1. Only Eat Protein "The body uses protein, carbs and fat to build muscle," Wyche notes. Additionally, any extra protein that the body doesn’t need could be stored as fat. It’s best that we eat a balanced diet with lots of vitamins and minerals.
2. Stretch Actually, we should never stretch before we run. Studies prove that stretching before exercise can increase our risk for injury, especially when we’re older, and decrease our overall workout performance. Instead, do a 3-5 minute warm up like walking.
3. Just Do Cardio "Building muscle helps maintain your metabolism even while you're resting and will help you slim down," explains Wyche. If we’re only doing cardio while dieting, we probably are losing more muscle mass. Lifting weights will keep the muscle we gain so that more of our weight loss will be permanent.
4. Fat Can Be Turned Into Muscle "Fat and muscle are two totally separate types of tissue. They aren't interchangeable," says Wyche. If we lose muscle mass it’s not because it has turned into fat, it’s because we’re working out less so we’re not using those muscles and they’re turning soft.
5. Crunches Will Take Care of Flab Wyche says, "You could do 5,000 crunches a day and still not see any improvements until you burn the layer of fat over your ab muscles." We have to add weight training and a large amount of cardio to those sit ups before we can expect to see any rippling results.
Photo Credit: Health.com
Posted by Shannon Nelson on August 5, 2010 7:27 AM
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